EU, Norway push for peace process in Somalia

BRUSSELS, Jan 3 (Reuters) European foreign ministers pushed today for a revival of the peace process between the Somali government and fleeing Islamists, as Ethiopian planes backing the government pursued the Islamists towards Kenya.

The Islamists, who withdrew from their last stronghold on Monday after two weeks of war with Somali government troops backed by Ethiopians, have sworn to fight on after melting into the hills between the Indian Ocean port of Kismayu and Kenya.

''We are keen to see an inclusive political process in Somalia, there's a need to have as broadly based a government as possible that brings in virtually all forces,'' Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told Reuters.

''Without that it will be difficult to achieve security,'' he said, adding that ''If you look at the past 15 years in Somalia it is difficult to be that optimistic.'' ''The presence of Ethiopian troops and the resumption of the position of the transitional government has opened up a small space for discussion but at the same time there are considerable risks,'' German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told a news conference after the talks.

He said there was a danger the conflict would move into Kenya.

The meeting, grouping European members of the International Contact Group on Somalia -- the German EU presidency, Sweden, Britain, Italy, the EU Commission and non-EU member Norway -- took no decisions but pledged help with restoring security and the possibility of increased aid to Somalia.

Steinmeier said the full International Contact Group, which also comprises the United States and Tanzania, would meet on Friday in Nairobi to discuss a possible peacekeeping force, before the African Union took a decision on sending one.

The EU, the world's biggest aid donor, has spent 300 million euros (8 million) in Somalia since 2001, a spokeswoman for the EU executive said. It has also set aside 15 million euros for an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.

Bildt and Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere called for Ethiopian troops to leave the country quickly, but said that should be done cautiously to avoid a security vacuum.

Ethiopian planes, tanks and troops helped the Somali government drive the Islamists from Mogadishu last week, after breaking out of its provincial outpost Baidoa to end six months of Islamist rule across much of southern Somalia.

REUTERS PB HT2215